1980 - 1989
On April 17th, scheduled spring training began for
the Chatham Senior Ironmen, with the season expected to begin around the end of May. Among those returning to the lineup was
Wally Jimmo, seasoned pitcher and veteran of twenty-seven seasons with the Ironmen.
The senior Ironmen began their season in poor fashion, losing
11-3 to their arch-rivals, the Marysville Royals, at the diamond in Marysville. This defeat was accredited to unusually poor
circumstances. For example, the Ironmen were failing to score even though they loaded the bases three times, and the loss
did not dampen the spirits of the Ironmen.
On the sixth of September, the Chatham Senior Ironmen's
playoff hopes were dashed when the Marysville Royals defeated them 15-14 to clinch a berth in the semi-finals.
Almost a month later, on September 21st, Chatham's beloved
Senior Ironmen defeated the Marysville Royals 10-7 to win the best of seven series four games to three and clinch the New
Brunswick Senior Baseball League Championship.
Before the final game, which was played in Marysville, each
team had won its three home games. However, Marysville had won the regular league pennant, and because of this was favored
to defeat Chatham.
After this "come from behind" victory, Chatham treated its
heroes with due appreciation, giving them a parade in which they rode on fire trucks, whose sirens were wailing and lights
flashing. The show of support, in which hundreds of Chatham natives participated, lasted until the early hours of the following
morning.
